Safe Communities of Wood County
Safe Communities of Wood County advocates for awareness of traffic related incidents and deaths through education initiatives to develop a safer Wood County.
Safe Communities of Wood County strives to improve the overall traffic safety of Wood County by reaching the following goals:
- 100% of Wood County will wear their seatbelt while in the vehicle and/or driving
- Increase awareness of traffic safety related issues such as distracted driving, impaired driving, and motorcycle safety awareness
- Promote traffic safety to students of all ages and the citizens of Wood County
Who Are We
Sandy Wiechman is the current coordinator of Wood County Safe Communities. The Safe Communities coalition is a grant funded program through the Ohio Traffic Safety Office. The grant is a pass-through from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the funding is based upon a 3-year average of traffic fatalities within the county. Bowling Green State University has served as the lead agency for this grant the past 12 years.
Accomplishments
Created a contest to get the youth involved in creating billboard signs on distracted driving. Wood County youth are invited to design a sign that raises awareness about distracted driving, with a chance for their artwork to be featured on a local billboard.
(2024 - Present)
Launched a campaign that helped purchase a driving simulator for use in Wood County to bring education and awareness to the problems of Impaired and Distracted Driving
(2016 - Present)
Piloted a unique program that brings the CarFit education to the mature drivers of Wood County on a 1:1 basis instead of a group setting. This has proven to increase participants as it eases the mature drivers' anxiety of asking questions and erroneous concern of law enforcement taking their drivers licenses.
(Present)
Collaborated with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio Department or Transportation, Sheriffs Offices in Wood, Sandusky, and Henry County to bring awareness to the dangers of Driving on the State Route 6 during the 100 deadliest days of summer.
(2018 - 2022)
Created the “Swallow Your Pride, Call for a Ride” program that provided free rides home on New Year’s Eve to those within the City of Bowling Green and the surrounding 10 mile radius of BG.
(2013 - 2020)
About Our Coordinator | Sandy Wiechman
Sandy has worked in public service for over 40 years. She began her career working for the Bowling Green Municipal Court as a deputy clerk. She then transitioned to a new challenge by working for the Wood County Sheriff’s Office and contributed in various capacities as a deputy sheriff, working as records clerk, grant writer, fiscal officer and community outreach coordinator for a total of 26 years.
While Sandy was getting ready to retire from the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, Sandy was approached by the Ohio Traffic Safety Office to write a grant that would create a Safe Communities Coalition in Wood County. When She retired, the grant was secured, and the Safe Communities Coalition was born. She continues her work within our active coalition and various community partners to bring the traffic safety messages to Wood County.
Yearly Statistics
2024 Statistics
- 3,375 total crashes
- 19 fatalities
- 723 injury crashes
- 2633 property damage crashes
No. 1 cause of a car crash is failure to stop at a stop sign
- 50% of fatalities
- 15% failure to yield
- 12% speeding
- 12% unbelted
- 34% young drivers
- 33% mature drivers
- 14% deer-related
Updated: 11/25/2025 09:33AM